Welcome to Gaia! ::

It was the day, the day meaning a day that he was going to leave the island and enjoy a bit of the civilian life he only half missed. As far as leave went, Horace was, quite obviously, the best brother Harley had never had. Except she had other, real brothers, a score of them probably. Horace, on the other hand, had no siblings. He thought. Parents had never factored into his life back home - he knew his mother's name, that was the only bit of information he had ever managed to weasel out of his grandma. So, Hattie was officially (unofficially) his sister. And Horace was excited, even if they were siblings that had kissed once. That kiss didn't count anyway, he reasoned.

He'd grabbed a messenger bag today, mostly empty, but it never hurt to be at least marginally prepared. For one brief, shining second, he debated texting Harley to make sure she was ready. And... that second passed and he slipped his phone into his pocket, doing the tri-tap: phone, keys, wallet. Good to go. With a spring in his step, he headed up to Harley's room. The rooms on the first floor were lighter, more airy and infinitely brighter. The whole floor was. Still, Horace found he didn't mind the basement (as long as it didn't flood).

With a deep breath, he twisted the knob to Harley's door slowly, ever so slowly, easing it open with a feather-light touch. Horace was trying to sneak up on his poor victim friend.

She was asleep.

Horace frowned and stared down at her. Harley was asleep and it was nearly time to go. Maybe she hadn't wanted to really go, after all... He had kind of forced her into saying yes without really thinking about it. Horace had just been stupidly excited to have friends - like her, like Melvin, like Dylon. With a sigh, he sat down on the other bed in the room (he'd read that she had a roommate, but why did she get only a cot? Unfair.). He kicked his feet out, but he wasn't quite close enough to touch her. Well, regardless if she wanted to go or not, he was at least going to wake her up and she would see him off.

With a huff, he took off his messenger bag. Carefully, he aimed and it went sailing.... to land right on her butt. He folded his arms. "Harley, WAKE UP."

He captured the pillow she tossed at him and folded it over his arms, glaring at her. Then he blinked. "This isn't a dream, but do you often dream about me stripping off? Oh my, Hattie!" Horace shot her a look, complete with waggling eyebrows. His hands had come up to press against his chest, as though he were some shy maiden in front of Hattie. Then, as though a switch were flipped, he arced a brow and turned back into regular Horace.

"I'm here because you said you'd go with me, you horrible brat. And if you don't wanna come, you can at least see me off." And if he was a little sulky about it, he hid it under his mocking tone and poked out tongue.

Horace rolled his eyes at Harley. "There's no judge in the world that would pardon you. And as to how - the door was unlocked, anyone could've come in." He frowned at her, mock outrage crossing his face at the 'smutty butt' comment. But then Harley was clambering on him like a damn barnacle and although he leaned back, it was too late. She was attached.

Abruptly, he stood, easily able to bear her slight weight. Horace was kind of hoping she'd just... slide off. He bounced up and down, jumped and finally, with a short, warning, "Hattie~", he spun around. Centrifugal force. Horace stopped. "I thought you didn't wanna come anymore because you were asleep..." he muttered, poking her.

He should've known it wouldn't work. Harley was nothing if not tenacious - he liked that about her. He couldn't even continue to sulk in the face of her promise. Then she started suishing him and he squeaked in distress. They rocked back and forth for a moment, Horace fighting a laugh. Finally, he gave in.

"Okay, okay, Hattie, I'm sorry. Let's go find you some puppies before they dock more of our hours." He huffed good-naturedly at her. "Regardless of when we leave, our leave started at 10am." He arched a dark eyebrow at her before snorting and spinching her arm.

Luckily for Harley, Horace was no longer feeling sulky or nit-picky.

"Do I look little to you?" Horace snorted and poke her earmuff. An earmuff he was certain he saw in Dylon's room. He laughed. "You're a clothing thief aren't you?"

-------------

Harley's laughter was always one thing - infectious. "Don't whine, you goof. Here." Abruptly, he shrugged off his huge scarf and tried to envelop her in it, pulling Tommy's own scarf from her neck - scarf swap. Horace was dressed simply, if not fashionably. A brown sweater vest, and over it, a couple of sleeveless jackets, the inside one a bright purple, the outside one brown. Despite the chill, he still refused to wear sleeves. At least he had worn full length pants. He tugged her out of the alleyway.

He had requested they be ported next to a large pet store and was not disappointed when they rounded the corner. Large and glorious and three white vans parked outside, emblazoned with various pet rescue logos. Score. "C'mon." He walked towards the store calmly and not like that overactive teenager he was. no.

Once inside it took approximately half a minute before Horace held a cat in his arms and another one walked across his shoulders. A grin spread across his face.

"I want all of them, Hattie."

"Hattie," he said in all mock-seriousness. "-if you die right here, then the poor shopkeepers would have to tote your body out, over to the dumpster." He screwed up his face at her. "That's where the trash goes, right?" He laughed and held up a hand. "Ok, that was mean - I'd give you a viking burial, flaming boat and all." The calico on Horace's shoulders nuzzled his face, nearly knocking his glasses off. Hattie could have the kittens, but his two were older cats, were suited to lazy walks and cuddles and tripping up people as they walked. He loved it.

He put the grey cat down, careful not to dislodge his shoulder buddy. It meowd plantively up at him, clearly unhappy with being set down. With a great sigh, Horace sat cross-legged on the floor and it leapt up and began to cuddle down into his lap. The calico began to chew on his hair. "You know, if you get the right kind of carrier, you can have pets, uh-" He looked around, unsure how to phrase things with so many normal people around. "-back home, if you get the right carrier. They probably won't be as cute as these guys, but.... I can try to help you find one?" He eyed the shop staff - they'd probably get kicked out soon, sadly. Especially since they weren't really buying anything.

Horace laughed at her antics. Really, Harley was like a big cat playing with littler cats. Only with more sass. "Yeah, we can. I, uh, I'm not sure. I think they die if they... get left outside.. the c-" A store associate had been standing near them and her eyes widened dramatically as Horace spoke. s**t, time to go. That was the wide-eyed look of 'I will find you and call animal protective services on you'.

Standing, he grabbed Hattie's arm and tried to yank her out of the store."Heeeey, we should probably go... I'll tell you more later." Besides, the next thing on their agenda was a short four block walk - the aquarium.